Independent Studios is a video and audio post-production facility headquartered in downtown Milwaukee that specializes in Video Editing, Music Composition, Sound Design, Motion Graphics, Animation, Visual Effects - essential services needed to craft a professional, finished product for radio and television commercials/programs, documentaries/films and web/digital commercial uses. Formed in 1991 as a partnership between Peter Buffett and Randy Bobo, Independent Studios continues to be recognized as the premier ‘post-house’ for trusted, professional results throughout the midwest region.
Post-Production is stage of media creation when the editors & mixers cut the a project together. They add sound, visual and special effects, voice-overs, songs, music scoring, and other details to the project. The mixers layer the sound to the picture and add titles to the final product that is then distributed in multiple formats.
On May 16, 2019 Independent Studios moved from its original location on Jefferson Street near Cathedral Square to join a select set of curated partners within the new NŌ Studios building at 1037 W. McKinley Avenue in the heart of the Pabst complex. Our new neighbors include: NŌ Studios, The Duncan Group, Milwaukee Film, Gener8tor, Media Circus International, Marquette University, Milwaukee Filmmaker Alliance (MFA), Backline, Imagine Milwaukee, 371 Productions and UWM. The newly custom-built suites feature state-of-the-art studio and post-production bespoke design. Aesthetically, the staff decided to bring with them some of the look and feel of their Jefferson ‘home’ so those that have previously visited it may recognize decor such as the Bamboo- and British Colonial-themed studio rooms.
Our People
Randy Bobo - Founder and Sound Design
Randy Bobo, is founder and owner of the Milwaukee-based post-production company. Randy got his start in audio for the theatre as resident sound designer at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. A decade of post-production work followed at Music Annex where he worked on film and broadcast projects including “Liquid Television” for MTV. Although Randy has primarily worked on radio and television commercials and shows, he also has credits on documentary films, including “The Life and Times of C.S. Lewis”, “The First Patient”, “The Cost of Freedom - Civil Liberties, Security and the USA Patriot Act”, “Prayer in America” and “The Reagan Presidency” which aired on PBS. Randy’s credits include Sound Design and Audio Post-Production Supervision for the award winning feature film “SweetLand” (winner of the 2007 Spirit Award for Independent Film, Best First Feature).
Steve Kultgen - Sound Editor and Mixer
Steve Kultgen is a sound editor and mixer who, in 1997 started as Independent Studios' first employee. Prior to arriving at Independent, he worked on ad agency-driven tv and radio spots at Milwaukee Sound Studios from 1990-1997.
Recent film work:
Sound editorial and mix for “The First Patient” Mayo Clinic; Dir. Chip Duncan
Mix for “The Blood Is at the Doorstep” Documentary about the police shooting of Dontre Hamilton; Dir. Erik Ljung; Sound editorial and mix for “The Field”. Dir. Tate Bunker
ADR recording for Chicago PD and Fire, Shameless, Milo Murphy’s Law (Weird Al Yankovic), and NCIS NOLA. Recent projects: Montana Tourism, Wisconsin Lottery, Ski-Doo / Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Echo Lawn Equipment, University of Wisconsin Credit Union, Keen Footwear, Cintas, Marquette University, Children’s Hospital
Peter Batchelder - Composer
Peter Batchelder has been working at Independent Studios as a music composer, sound designer and audio engineer for over 20 years. Although his academic background was in filmmaking, shortly after graduation, Peter started to focus more on music and sound design as his primary areas of interest. As a composer, Peter has written music for numerous commercials, TV shows, feature films, short films and documentaries. Some projects that feature his music are Green Street Hooligans, Modus Operandi, The Reagan Presidency, The First Patient, The Wheel, LittlRed, and The Field. Peter most enjoys collaborating with his clients, and least enjoys writing bios about himself.
Ryan Plato - Assistant Editor, Technical Advisor & Writer
Ryan Plato is an assistant editor and technical advisor, working regularly in both the AVID platform and the Adobe Creative Suite. He deals with ingestion and output of client footage and elements while ensuring a smooth transition through final delivery, be it WEB, film, broadcast, trade show, or other medium. Dealing with everyone from local television stations to media exhibitors nationally and internationally via Extreme Reach, DropBox, Hightail, and other distribution solutions, Ryan stays informed and up-to-date on the latest strategies and newest methods of global media dissemination. Ryan is also a screenwriter, having written several award winning short films that have screened around the world.
Kevin Klimek - Video Editor
Kevin Klimek has been creating visual stories for over 25 years. A native to Milwaukee, he has had the opportunity to edit national, regional, and local television and long-form campaigns including Ski-doo, CITGO, Kohl’s, West Virginia Tourism, and the Milwaukee Brewers. While skilled in all genres, Kevin is sought out for crafting emotional stories out of unscripted interviews. Whether working independently or collaboratively, he believes that the post process can reveal moments that, while not appearing on the scripted page, can greatly enhance the end product.
Trish Sheppard - Business Manager
Trish Sheppard is the Business Manager for Independent Studios. With a BBA in Accounting from UW-Milwaukee, she’s worn many hats over the course of her career. In her current position managing the business affairs for the studio, she really enjoys working with the clients and the creative aspects of this industry and oversees the day-to-day operations of the studio so the rest of the staff can focus on what they do best. Whether you need a project estimate, scheduling or have a billing question, give her a call or send her an email.
Email contact: [email protected]
Jason Klagstad - Marketing Communications
During Jason’s career in the music and experiential marketing industries he has, amongst other things, helped produce a concert on the North Pole with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Violent Femmes for Molson and managed teams executing up to 700 branded events per week. As head of production at GMR Marketing, his $17 million annual client portfolio included Miller Brewing, Trojan, EA Sports, Altria, Microsoft, Intel, Tyco and The Packers and Nike. Spearheading the tech revolution in event marketing, he co-founded a group out of Green Bay (Cineviz) that introduced holograms, interactive projection and augmented reality to clients such as Nike, Packers and Intel. His role at Independent studios is to use up-to-date digital marketing methods to bring the Independent Studios brand to a national audience.
Email contact: [email protected]
AWARDS
Independent Studios has won numerous awards for its work, including:
2008 Radio-Mercury Award BVK/Shorewest Realty Company
2003 Cine Golden Eagle “In A Just World”
2002 Gabriel Award “The Life and Times of C.S. Lewis”
1996 Cine Golden Eagle “Bali-Island of 1000 Temples”
Samples of its work can be found at https://www.independentstudios.tv
